Feeding device for solid substances



March 1, 1932. .v 1L. M. BOOTH ET AL FEEDING DEVICE FOR SOLID SUBSTANCES Fiied June 24, 1930 s Sheeds-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY V March 1, 1932. M. BOOTH ET AL 1,847,292

FEEDING DEVICE FOR SOLID SUBSTANCES Filed June 24, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMK IN VEJIVTOR Q Mg; m

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March 1, 1932. L. M. BOOTH ET AL FEEDING DEVICE FOR SOLID SUBSTANCES Filed June 24,

1930 3 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEVIS MILLER BOOTH AND GEORGE MARTIN BOOTH, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO WALLACE & TIERNAN COMPANY, INC., F BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY,

A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FEEDING DEVICE FOR SOLID SUBSTANCES Application filed June 24,

This invention relates to the general subject of feeders, and has particular reference to an improved feeding device designed especially for feeding crystallized, pulverized,

, or other subdivided solid substances.

The feeder consists of two principal parts. First, a hopper in which the material to be fed is placed. Second, a device for feeding and regulating the flow from the hopper. Our present invention has particular refer ence to the feeding and regulating members.

To this end our invention contemplates a simple and practical construction which provides a feeding and regulating member to be used in conjunction with a hopper or container for the material which is desired to be fed. Said hopper or container should be of such design as to insure delivery of its contents to, and as required by, the feeding and regulating device.

With the foregoing general object in view, other more specific objects will. be apparent as the description of our invention proceeds. The invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

Fundamentally the apparatus embodying this invention consists of a hopper so constructed and supported that the lower or feeding end of said hopper is capable of being moved. The lower end of the hopper forms or carries a spout which cooperates with a separate member designated as a feed plate. The feed plate is restrained from substantial movement relative to the spout. Preferred and practical embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1is a side elevation view, partly in section, of one form embodying the pres-' ent invention.

Figure 2-is a plan view.

Figures 3 and 4.are details, partly in section, of the spout and feed plate.

Figures 5 and 6are details, partly insection, of another form of spout and feed plate.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4:-The numeral 1 indicates a feed hopper, which is supported at its upper end by bearings 2,

1930. Serial No. 463,946.

rotatably mounted on a shaft 3. The shaft 3 is rigidlymounted on external means not shown. The spout 4 is attached to the lower end of the hopper 1. The bearing 5 is carried by the spout 4, which through pin 6, link 7 and pin 8 is attached tothe yoke 9. The pinion 10 and hand wheel 11 are secured on the pin 12. The pinion 1O meshes with the rack 13 which is in turn fastened to the lever 14. The lever l4is fulcrumed on the pin 15. The pin 15 is mounted in the bearing 16, the latter being rigidly supportedby external means not shown. The shaft 17 which carries the crank 18 is connected with a mechanical power source not shown. The crank 18 is connected with the upper end of the lever 14 through the link 19 and the pin 20. The screw 21 is a locking screw for the yoke 9. The feed plate 22 is mounted on the supporting bar 23, which in turn is loosely supported on pins 24, which latter are mounted on external means not shown. The springs 25 actuating upward against the supporting bar 23 maintain the feed plate 22 in contact with the spout 4. The feed opening 26 is bounded on its sides by extended portions of the spout 4, on its top by the adjustable gate 27 and on the bottom by the feed plate 22. Screw 28 secures adjustable gate 27. The gate 27 constitutes primary means for regulating the rate of feed from the hopper.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 :These illustrate an alternate form wherein the spout 29 performs the same function as the spout 4 referred to above. The spout 29 difiers from the spout 4 in that the former has no feed opening at the side. The driving mechanism is similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Accordingly, the bearing 5, pin 6, link 7, etc. serve the same purpose as the parts having the same numbers in the form illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 described above. The feed plate 30 having the openiiig 31 is mounted on supporting bars 32, pins 24 and springs 25. The regulating. plate 33 is supported on adjustable bracket 34. The slots 35 in the bracket 34, in conjunction with the screws 36, provide means for vertical adjustment of the regulating plate 33. This form of feed regulating device has two simila r feed regulating openings 37, which are bounded on their sides by the spout 29, on the top by the lower side of the regulating plate 33, and on the bottom by the feed plate 30. The adjustable plate 33 constitutes primary means for regulating the rate of feed from the hopper.

The method of operation of the form shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4: is as follows Thematerial to be fed is placed in the hopper 1. Shaft 17 through the crank 18 imparts a horizontal reciprocating motion to the pin 20 through link 19. The pin 20 imparts its motion to the lever 14, which is fulcrumed on the pin 15. By this means horizontal reciprocating motion is imparted to the lower end of the lever 14. The horizontal reciprocating motion is further transmitted through the yoke 9, pin 8, link 7, pin 6, and bearing 5 to the spout 4. By adj ustment of the'hand wheel 11, pin 12 moves pinion 10 meshed with rack 13 on lever 14. In this manner the ratio of effective lever lengths above and below fulcrum 15 may be varied. One revolution of shaft 17 produces one cycle of operation of the mechanism. Referring to Figure 1 :As the lower end of hopper 1, together with spout 4, is advanced in direction A, a ribbon of material being fed is pushed over the edge of feed plate 22. Upon the return stroke (direction B) the space in spout 4 formerly occupied by the material pushed off the feed plate 22 is filled by the downward movement of the material in hopper 1. As similar cycles of operation continue, equal amounts of the material being fed are pushed off the feed plate 22 in ribbon form. The cross sectional area of the opening 26 may be varied by means of the adjustable gate 27. This adjustable opening determines the cross sectional area of the ribbon of material being fed and therefore affords a primary adjustment of the rate of feed. Secondary adjustment of the rate of feed is obtained as described above, by the variation in extent of reciprocal movement of the spout 4. By these means a volumetrically measured portion of material is fed during each cycle of operation. The frequency of cycles of operation is another or tertiary means of varying and regulating the rate of feed. 7

The form of feeding device shown in Figures 5 and 6 differs only from the form previously described in that feed occurs both I during the advance and return strokes and that the upper edge of the feed regulating openings 37 is a stationary plate instead of a part of the movable hopper.

While the feeding device shown embodies two of our preferred forms, the invention is not limited to these particular forms inasmuch as there are other methods which may be used without departing from the scope of this invention.

Among the advantages of the device as developed are Wide and accurate variation of the rate of feed is obtainable by three separate means of adjustment. Another advantage is the small amount of power required due to the fact that friction is minimized. The stationary and moving parts between which the material to be fed passes being maintained in contact with each other by springs eliminates damage due to the passage of oversized lumps of material.

Having herein described our apparatus and its methods of operation we claim 1. In a mechanical feeder the combination of a movable hopper having open ends, a stationary feed control member in contact with the discharge end of the hopper, and mechanical means for moving saidhopper over said feed control.

2. In a mechanical feeder the combination of a movable hopper having open ends, a stationary feed control member in contact with the discharge end of the hopper, mechanical means for moving said hopper over said feed control member, and adjustable means for varying the extent of the movement of said hopper.

3. In a mechanical feeder the combination of a movable hopper having open ends, a stationary feed controlling member in contact with the discharge end of the hopper and mechanical means for imparting a reciprocal movement of the hopper over said feed control member.

4. In a mechanical feeder the combination of a movable hopper having open ends, a stationary feed control member in contact with the discharge end of the hopper, mechanical means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the hopper over said feed control member, and means for varying the extent of the movement of the hopper.

5. In a mechanical feeder the combination of ,a movable hopper having open ends, a stationary feed control member, resilient means for maintaining said feed control member in contact with the discharge end of the hopper and mechanical means for moving said hopper over said feed control member.

6. In a mechanical feeder the combination with a movable hopper having open ends and a discharge orifice, a stationary feed control member in contact with the discharge end of said hopper, and mechanical means for moving said hopper over said feed control means.

7. In a mechanical feeder the combination with a movable hopper having open ends and a discharge orifice, a stationary feed control member in contact with the discharge end of said hopper, mechanical means for moving said hopper over said feed control means, and means for varying the area of the discharge orifice.

discharge orifice, a stationary feed control member, mechanical means for moving said hopper over said feed control member and primary, secondary and tertiary adjustable means for regulating the rate of feed from the hopper.

LEVIS MILLER BOOTH. GEORGE MARTIN BOOTH. 

